FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact: Cary
Mowry 724-496-3251, Bob Eriksen 908-454-1882
Don Heckman 717-761-5925. July 30, 2003
Turkey Hunters Oppose New Orange Requirements
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has proposed new
fluorescent orange regulations for the 2004-2005 hunting season.
The proposed regulations would require fall hunters to wear 250 square inches
of orange at all times while hunting. This includes bow, primitive weapon and
fall turkey hunters.
Spring turkey hunters would be required to wear a hat of solid orange when
relocating, but can remove it when in a stationary calling position. Blaze-camo
hats, and orange hats with logos would be illegal.
Jerry Zimmerman, National Wild Turkey Federation Regional Director for
Pennsylvania and long-time hunter, is concerned about the proposed
blaze-orange changes because Pennsylvania already requires hunters to wear
blaze-orange and still had more turkey hunting firearm incidents in 2003 than
any other state. According to the International Hunter Education Association
there were 20 firearm incidents in Pennsylvania during the fall and spring
turkey seasons in 2003 and 23 incidents the year before. Several of these
incidents involved hunters wearing blaze orange; three incidents were
attributed to the wearing of blaze-orange when hunters mistook blaze- orange
for the red of a gobbler's head.
"Back in 1992 when blaze orange started being required for turkey hunters
in Pennsylvania there was an initial drop in turkey hunting incidents,"
Zimmerman said. "But we are still higher than states that don't require
blaze orange. What we really need is an increased emphasis on defensive turkey
hunting techniques and teaching hunters to positively identify their targets
before firing in the hunter safety education courses"
Missouri and Texas, which have comparable numbers of turkey hunters to
Pennsylvania and no blaze orange requirements, had fewer turkey hunting
incidents in 2003. Missouri had 13 and Texas only had three turkey hunting
incidents.
Greg Caldwell, former NWTF state chapter president, said that the Pennsylvania
state chapter of the NWTF has gone on record saying that their members cannot
and will not support additional orange requirements for turkey hunters.
"The orange is like a band aid to the real problem," Caldwell said.
"Teaching hunters how to hunt safely and properly will do more to help
solve the problem."
The NWTF recommends never wearing turkey target colors while turkey hunting,
unless required by law. The colors that should never be worn are red,
white, blue and black, because these are some of the predominant colors found
on a gobbler.
Bow, primitive weapon and turkey hunters can voice their opinions about the
Pennsylvania orange issue by writing to their local commissioner and the PGC
Executives at: PA Game Commission, 2003 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110,
by emailing pgccomments@state.pa.us
or calling 717-787-4250.
The PGC Commissioners will vote on this issue during their October 6 - 7
meetings. The public is encouraged to comment on the proposal before the
meeting.
For more information about the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or visit the website
at www.nwtf.org.
About the NWTF: In 1973 when the National Wild Turkey Federation was
founded, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million
turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many
volunteers and partners, today there are more than 6 million wild turkeys and
approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than $175 million
NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 24,000 projects benefiting
wild turkeys throughout North America.
The NWTF is a half million-member grassroots, nonprofit organization with
members in 50 states, Canada and 11 foreign countries. It supports scientific
wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild
turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.
For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803)
637-3106, check out our web site at www.nwtf.org
or e-mail questions to nwtf@nwtf.net.
Send mail to panwtf@go2pa.com
with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Pennsylvania Chapter- National Wild Turkey Federation
Last modified: November 20, 2003